System and use thereof for collecting chemical-physical, electrochemical and mechanical parameters for designing and/or operating cathodic protection plants

Abstract

System for collecting chemical-physical and electrochemical parameters for designing and/or operating cathodic protection systems applied to steel structures exposed to corrosion. The system includes a series of electrode sensors (5, 6), (5-7, 5-7'), (14-16), (17), connected to conducting sleeves (2) applied onto a multipolar conducting cable (1) and/or series of conventional sensors placed in sealed rooms (26) provided inside cable (1). The invention further discloses the method for utilizing said apparatus.

We claim: 
     
       1. A device for measuring current density corresponding to the limiting oxygen diffusion rate towards the surface of a metal structure to be cathodically protected comprising: a test electrode, an auxiliary electrode, and a reference electrode, all inserted onto a multipolar electric cable and spaced along said cable length;   said test electrode including a valve metal sleeve, said sleeve being electrically connected (A1) to a wire of said multipolar cable,   said auxiliary electrode including a valve metal sleeve, said sleeve being electrically connected (D1) to a wire of said multipolar cable;   said reference electrode being positioned in close proximity to the edge of said test electrode and including a valve metal sleeve inserted onto said multipolar electric cable and a silver or zinc ring applied onto said sleeve, said sleeve being electrically connected (A2) to a wire of said multipolar cable, wherein two non-conductive shields are positioned in close proximity to both edges of said test electrode to exactly define the electric and diffusing fields.   
     
     
       2. A reference electrode for measuring the electrochemical potential of cathodically protected structures comprising: a valve metal sleeve inserted onto a multipolar electric cable and a metal ring made of silver or zinc, applied onto said sleeve, said sleeve being electrically connected (A2) to a wire of said multipolar cable,   said reference electrode further comprising an auxiliary electrode inserted onto said multipolar electric cable, said auxiliary electrode including a sleeve made of an activated valve metal, said sleeve being electrically connected (A1) to a wire of said cable, wherein periodical anodic polarization is applied to inhibit formation of scales or fouling by means of an electric DC source applied between connections (A1) and (A2).